DAVID Metcalfe may be a sheep farmer by trade but he knows more about weather forecasts than Michael Fish these days as the owner of star sprinter Mecca's Angel.

The Michael Dods-trained filly is again scheduled to run in the King's Stand Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday but it all depends on the ground for the lightning fast daughter of Dark Angel.

Last year, she was pulled out of the five furlong race an hour or so before the start with the going too firm to risk her and, as things stand, the Ascot turf is good to firm.

"We keep hearing that there's rain forecast but it never seems to materialise," said David. "People think she needs it soft but that's not the case – she just doesn't want it firm."

If she does get her ground, David is convinced we'll see a better horse than the one edged out in a battle to the line by Clive Cox's progressive Profitable in The Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 21. Profitable is favourite for the King's Stand, with Mecca's Angel trading at around 6-1, although her owner has had "a bit" on at 8-1 in anticipation of the ground coming in her favour.

"At Haydock, it was very testing for her first run in nine months. The winner is a very good, up and coming horse but our filly couldn't quite get her feet out and use the acceleration we know she's got," he said.

Mecca's Angel came out of the Haydock race well and jockey Paul Mulrennan reports that she's come on for the race. "Paul's sure we'll see a better horse at Ascot if she runs," said David.

David grew up in Carmel Road South, Darlington, and still lives on the outskirts of the town. His parents had garages, selling trucks, in Darlington, Stockton, and Newcastle but David has concentrated more on farming, although he also ran the family haulage business.

He trained under permit himself for a while and was a successful amateur jockey, riding his first winner, Forest Guard, for Gordon Richards and his last winner, My Saint Anne, for Howard Johnson, at Hexham in 1981. He has owned horses since 2000, notably Group 3 winner Sierra Vista, but nothing in the league of Mecca's Angel.

For a proud northerner like David, winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at last year's York festival more than made up for not getting a run at Royal Ascot.

If she doesn't run at Ascot, she's entered for a race in Ireland as a backstop, but there's plenty left to aim for.

A repeat of her Nunthorpe success, in which she beat the mighty Acapulco, is the main objective, with the King George at Goodwood in between. David would love her to go for the Group 2 Flying 5 at The Curragh in September and then, of course, there's the Prix de l'Abbbaye at Longchamp in October. She could end her career over six furlongs at Ascot at the end of October before retiring to stud.

"Horses like her don't come along very often so we just have to hope she gets the chances to run," said David. "Winning at Ascot would obviously be a dream but I promise you this – win or lose, we'll be having a party."